The Left Democratic Front Government, which was in power from
1987, decided to seek a fresh mandate one year ahead of the expiry of its
term. The decision was prompted by the announcement of the elections to
the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) and the Front's good showing
in the elections to the local bodies held in the previous year. (The Lok
Sabha elections had become necessary with the fall of the S. Chandrasekhar
Government at the Centre).

As in the previous elections, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the
United Democratic Front (UDF) were the main contesting fronts. However,
the main faction of the Kerala Congress, led by Mr. P. J. Joseph, had left
the LDF and joined the LDF. At the same time, the Communist Marxist Party,
formed by Mr. M. V. Raghavan, who was expelled from the CPI(M) over policy
differences, joined the UDF.

Though the elections were scheduled to be held on May 23, 1991, it was
postponed to June 18 following the assassination of the former Prime Minister,
Rajiv Gandhi, on May 21. The elections saw the LDF losing power and the
UDF returning to power after four years.

The total electorate for 1991 election was 1,96,57,974. Thus,
there is an increase of about seven lakh voters. About 73.46 per
cent (14433354) of the electorate exercised their franchise.